Austria Orders Four Russian Diplomats to Leave

Austria has ordered four Russian diplomats to leave the country, declaring them persona non grata after security authorities reported findings that prompted the action. An Austrian official linked the expulsions to espionage, while the Foreign Ministry did not publicly describe the alleged activities. Three of the diplomats served at the Russian Embassy in Vienna and one at Russia’s delegation to the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe, the ministry said. It said the diplomats had engaged in activities incompatible with their diplomatic status and were ordered to leave. An Austrian official, speaking anonymously, said they were expected to depart in the coming days. The Foreign Ministry said the expulsions bring to 18 the number of Russian diplomats Austria has expelled since 2020. The ministry did not provide details about the evidence or identify specific conduct by the four diplomats. The espionage allegation was attributed to the anonymous official rather than set out in the ministry’s statement. Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Dmitry Lyubinsky said a Russian response was unavoidable, according to a report by the state-run TASS news agency. The Russian...